THE NEXT ACT

One thing I remember in my first days in NZ was that I got freckles or people might see me as a frecklish guy.  Coz since they were knowing me for the first time and they had no idea who I was before, I presumed that they knew me as a guy with freckles or with acne scars. No one had asked what it was which  was a give away understanding they thought it was a natural feature of mine.  The truth is I was supposed to arrive in NZ a month earlier if not for the chicken fox.  Yes I got chicken fox which I needed to heal before flying to Auckland.  O that chicken fox hurt terribly.  I stayed in my parents home since I did not want JC to catch it.  I endured it for first two days and following days are healing wounds while finishing the three DVD boxes of  the TV series Six Feet Under.  To me it was a blessing that I got it when I was still in the Philippines.  I could not imagine if I got it when I am already in NZ alo...

In my past blog I have said that I began to appreciate small conversation with chatty strangers whom I come across in different places. The reason why small conversations with strangers might turn out to be good is perhaps that there is a minimal amount of knowledge of each other and most likely the topic would be limited to things, events and basic infos.   At least it would start that way until the nasty stuff might kick in such as people bashing. But before it happened, time is running out and both of you need to go on with your own separate ways. And you parted happy. I began to realise that if I would just see the person I am talking with in a perspective of what I see him/her now and not he/she was before or what unreliable others say about him/her, the conversation between us might be interestingly good. The Now is the gauge to measure, not the Then and most likely not the Next. If the Now personality is still as bad as you fairly perceive, bail out before. It is a waste...

Two people on my way to Welly tried to have a good conversation with me. O ne was a bloke who was sitting across my seat in a small plane while we had a bumpy ride to Auckland and he happened to have a business in East Coast with Filipino Employees. He has been to Manila, Makati particularly and he used to have a couple of business there. He likes bands and he mentioned that there are good singers in Manila who has not been discovered yet. I agree with him. And so that's how I figured out why he kept on bugging me to small talk with him. Filipinos are close to his heart. A lady made a small talk that turned out to an interesting conversation with me. S he food caters for the Hobbits Cast and Crew. Whadyaknow. She hasn't seen any actual shooting . Well it makes sense that the food would come at break time. Doesn't it? But she has many chances of being on the set with all small houses and enchanting landscapes. I remember when my family went to Matamata now known as ...

I want to start the new year right by conversing with My Lord, Almighty Jesus. I praise You.   I adore You.   I worship you.   You are the alpha and omega.   You are the beginning and the end.   You are the way, the truth and the life.   No one will come through the Father except through Jesus Christ.   Lord, you have made everything possible. 2011 has formed us and we know that You will continue to form us.   I guarantee that we are better individuals at the end of the year and we are looking forward for another year of formation and grace. Thank you for a meaningful year.   It had ups and downs which yet interwoven to form me and family.   We are stronger in faith and commitment with one another.   Thank you for being there for me.   You never seize to guide me and give all the wisdom that I needed.   Lord thanks for making me stronger. 2012 has just happened and here we are, alive and kicking.   Thank you for co...

I am fascinated when I get to watch shows like X-factor and the Voice where the professionals get to guide the talent. The way the relationship goes well between the talent and the mentor is when the talent gives complete trust with the mentor and just accepts that the mentor has a better view of how the talent can emanate the stuff effectively and well. It’s just like a director who has the best view on what’s going on outside the stage. I remember there was this hip guy who was part of the cast in the stage play. During the rehearsal the director directed him to exaggerate his movement. But the guy being cool but a newbie thought that the movement is awkward and not cool. And so he did not follow the director’s direction when the rest of the cast exaggerated their movements during the performance. During the performance it turned out that the audience viewed that the cool guy was awkward on stage and the rest of the cast were outstanding. What is deemed awkward in real life is normal...

You were born and you became the sunshine of our life.   You lift up lolo’s heart, lola’s and mine as well and put it in another level.   The first grandson.   My first nephew.   Our best friend.   You grew up in my arms when your dad was working overseas.   It is a pleasure that I become your second dad because you had been my joy.   You may never know how much you make a difference but you are the source of strength to many people who love you especially to lolo and lola. You grew up to become a fine young man, a good son and a good brother to your siblings and a good friend.   You made us proud in putting your gifts into good use. I am having tears knowing that you will never be physically around.   But I know that you are in a better place now telling us,” Hey, I am Okay.”   And we will be okay.   We will be okay. You are always be the source of our strength even more that you are now where you are.   Now we are much cl...

I am a humorous person. I love cracking jokes. I like making people laugh or smile. Sometimes I succeed and it makes me smile inside when I am hearing genuine laugh after a deliver a punch line. A TV host asked the Topp Twins, NZ great comedians, “What is the secret of how you make people laugh.” The Topp Twins look at each other and answered in unison, “Timing”. It is true. The punch line has to be delivered in the right time or else you blew it. However there is a kind of humor that I believe would never be in the right timing and that is BITING HUMOR. Biting Humor is a kind of humour that is funny and painful at the same time. It is a humour gained at someone else’s expense. There was a time that I was not so conscious about the kind of humour that I deliver as long as it’s a joke. “It’s just a joke.” But then when I get to see the importance of connections to people and to see a better view of the reason that I am no different from them and we have all feelings, I learned to b...

A question was posted in a forum of one of those popular websites.. How is it that constantly putting others down means you have low self esteem? Many answers were placed and readers went to vote for what the best answer is. And the winner is: Because people with low self-esteem boost it by seeing other people more miserable than themselves, since that gives them the idea they are better than them. They accomplish that by putting people down Yeah. Yeah. I know it’s obvious. What can I say?  It is indeed a turn off that one is proving their worth by putting down others. In my prayer, I was reminded that I ought to put security in HIM and to lean not on my own understanding. HIS way is better than any other way. I always believe that I don’t need to put down others with the reason that I am alright just the way I am with God’s Grace.

While my wife and my son were doing usual stuff in the living room, I thought of going to bedroom for some reason. I sat on the bed and saw the bible in the side shelves. I picked up and open a page. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. Blessed are you when they reproach and persecute you, and while speaking lies, say every evil thing against you because of Me. – Matthew 5: 10-11. O yeah. These verses are what I need to get me going. There is a reason for me to be steadfast in doing good even in the midst of being persecuted at times. The reward is great because I am blessed. And then I prayed and asked God, “Have I done something to harm You or harm anyone?” I stayed quiet for a while. And then I said to myself, “I am ok.” I know that I have been transformed for the better for doing good. And then I went back and joined my family in the living room.

Do you have a formula for happiness? This was one of the questions of NRC to be answered by newbies as a form of getting to be introduced in the council the answer of which would be published in the council’s internal website. When I was newbie I had my own answer with this without a blink of an eye to be honest. However I was curious knowing what the other newbies have answered. And so I explored and got to peek some of the newbies’ answers. Some answers to the Formula of for happiness: • Freshly poured honey from my bee hives – on toast, in my tea. • Go out fishing on a calm, misty winter morning in a small boat- great feeling as the fog starts to disperse, the sun breaks through and warms you through (as long as there is no fish to break the tranquillity). • Yip: Guitar Hero and vodka • Just smile at everything • Tolerance & Respect for others but with lots of laughter • Try not to sweat the small stuff! • Chocolate • Love, laughter, sunshine and generally a ...

The Community Relations Team looks after the external and internal website in the council. In a nutshell they are managing all forms of communications and information disseminations in and out of the office. One of those information disseminations is introducing the new comers or the newly employed staff. What is delightfully interesting is that they have a personal way (not corporate way) of introducing them in the website. I remember when I was a newbie as an engineer in the council they emailed me a set of trivial questions which I should give answers for them to post the internal website. Among the questions are: Team & Department? What do you do in a nutshell? Before this nutshell, what did you do in your last nutshell? I consider these still in the corporate zone. Family/home life/living arrangements? Hmmm starting to get personal. And then the questions are trying to take some character and personality indications. What are you reading at the moment? Who mak...

When we were single, my best friend Raul and I used to handle action groups of Christian men. During one of those gatherings, Raul gave an interesting workshop. He brought a box of pencils and a bundle of paper and distributed them among us. He asked us to draw the best pictures that we can draw. He encourages each of us to make it as good as a masterpiece that each of us can be proud of. We were given a few minutes to do it. Some of us know how to draw and some us don’t but we exerted effort to give it a shot to make our masterpieces. After we finished Raul showcased the pictures one by one and noted the strong points of each of the pictures while we applauded. Raul asked us, “Can I keep it? Could you give all these to me as a gift?” And all of us agreed that we will give all the pictures to Raul. And then Raul RIPPED them in to small pieces. He threw them on the floor and stepped on them…………………We were silent and shocked. “How do you feel now?” he asked the group. Some say they are ma...

It is  good to encourage to help a person build he/she confidence especially when you know that he/she got potentials.   But we need to be careful of what we are giving him confidence about.   Most of the time putting false confidence to a person is such a dangerous move.   It’s like saying to a person that you can fly and that he can jump on a cliff.   It’s like pushing someone to bit a guy who is three times the size of his.   There are so many vulnerable minds in the world and they are indeed prone to be brainwashed in everything that will be fed to them and they believe right away.   They are really the target to get to be conned at and they simply don’t know what’s coming their way.   Being overshadowed by false confidence is a sure direction to being doomed.   True Confidence must be built up according to what he is, what he got and what potential he has.   False confidence is saying that he is what he is not.   False confiden...

Aware that most of the people are keen to aim for being number one, Morrie asked, “What’s wrong with number two?” I take this to see that Morrie is not into competition. He just want to enjoy whatever he is doing. I already blogged about my personal view about this. ( http://jonsaintrandom.blogspot.com/2010/10/helmet-and-paddings.html ). I mentioned in that blog that I already reached the stage where competition is not in my agenda already. I am not also aiming to outdo anyone. In the first place how can I outdo anyone when I am not thinking about competing? I just want to do things in my own delight. I also aim to do better everyday not for any reason but to honour the The Almightty Talent Giver. That is the essence of the Parable of the talents - to improve, to excel in His Honour. Competition tends to surface envy. Putting envy in the ingredient – I am certain that grace will not come my way with this. I am attesting to this. I got what I got because of grace. I am trying to be a g...

The first time I have learned the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob was when it was adopted as a children story in a magazine and I was the one illustrating it. While reading and understanding the story so as I would know how I would deliver the illustrations, I was amazed of the character of Joseph. This guy is super forgiving-to-the-max-a-hundred-folds. And he knows how to turn around an ill fate to thinking that God has a good plan for him. And the plan unfolds and geared towards his greatness. The story of Joseph sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? He was sold by his brothers for twenty peaces of silver. He was imprisoned and falsely accused. Yet he obtained his peaceful perception of everything in the midst of painful injustices. He remained faithful and earned the favour of the Pharaoh. And he was exalted to rule Egypt under Pharaoh. He obtained power and used it not to seek vengeance to whoever had wronged him but used it to get back the long lost love of his fami...

The other night, Da Vinci Code was shown in TV2. I did not watch the whole film that night for the reason that I have read and watched it for how many times. But I got to watch the first minutes of the Louvre Scene. I was not in it for the indulgence of the gruesome murder of Jacques Sauniere or the clues within the Da Vinci’s paintings but the gratification on bringing reminiscences on my fantastic journey inside the Louvre. There are so many remarkable places in Paris. Louvre is definitely one of them. The Louvre, the palace full of famous artworks is so huge that it will take the whole day touring inside. One of the main attractions was the famous Mona Lisa. I was advised to go straight to where Mona Lisa Painting was before I ran out of time seeing it. And so that was the plan. There were arrow signs pointing to where Mona Lisa was and that made the whole endeavor much easier. But it was not as easy as I thought it would be when I kept on being held back by other enticing artworks...

Being obsessed with accolades would mean not allowing anyone to do the job even in the midst of doing another job. The praise hunger fella has difficulties delegating other jobs with the fear that the attention would be stolen. The poor guy tries to do a one-man-band not minding the tension and the time wasted. He tries to afford a frame of mind of all knowing so as not make room for others to grab the stage. I was a victim of these obsession when I was the director, script/libretto writer, melody composer of a 2-hour musical play Darklight sponsored by the community I used to belong. The story was inspired by C.S. :Lewis Book entitled Screwtape Letters. I also used the character of Screwtape and his nephew Wormwood in the story and the situation where Screwtape advising Wormwood how to be an excellent devil. It took almost one year of preparation with some spices due to some difficult interactions among the staff, crew and management not to mention the hang-ups within me who was still...

One of the effective schemes in order to lose the respectable image of someone is to make him a laughing stock. It’s like a medal of achievement hung on his breast is being counterbalanced by a paper stock in his back saying dumb ass. This endeavour can be made easy when a lot of them have the same intention to put him down and all they have to do is to water down the ridicule until his greatness thins off. No matter how he chalks up his highest potential, there are always watchful eyes who are keen to inhibit him to blossom. And once a progress of his has taken place, still they have the option to pull his pants down. For sure the root of this scheme is envy and insecurity. One who is always investing in making ways to pull others’ pants down is foolish and insecure and doesn’t know what he/she is good at and envies those who know their place in the world to excel. Spending energy to mess others deprives oneself time and energy in exploring ones own capability. Unless he/she break...

This is a compilation of songs in capella the voices of which I sung and arranged. Jonsaint A Capella at Muziboo | Upload Music

I have been a fan of detective stories in my youth. There has been a time that I was a frequent visitor of many bookstores in order to find out what latest copy of the Hardy Boys or the Hitchcock’s Three Investigators was. I was fascinated with mysteries being cleverly solved. During those times I wished that I would be a clever as Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot. Miss Marple and Charlie Chan. My favorite stories are those books which have endings I wouldn’t have the slightest idea they were coming. The more I couldn’t find a single clue, the more I admire the heroes who cunningly figured them out. I reckon that The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is really a masterpiece of Agatha Christie. Geniusly written. On the other hand I was into action movies. I was also a fan of Bruce Lee. I copied his moves, his haircut and I knew how to play around with the nunchaku just like what BL did in Enter the Dragon. What I didn’t see coming was when Guy Ritchie reinvented the character Sherlock H...